Strong Consumer Confidence
Bodes Well for U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON -- Consumer confidence remained robust this month, a good sign that household spending, and by extension overall economic growth, will remain strong going into early 1999.

The Conference Board said its monthly index measuring consumer sentiment slipped a bit to 126.1 in December from a revised 126.4 in November. The drop was "marginal," the New York private research firm said. "The conditions fueling this expansion show no indication of dissipating anytime soon," said Lynn Franco, associate...